Retail Solutions: Point-of-Sale and Mobile Point-of-Sale Options

For small- and medium-sized businesses

When they were first invented well over a century ago, they were just cash registers. Today, point-of-sale (POS) solutions play a central role not just in ringing up sales but also in marketing, pricing, inventory control, customer service—you name it.

Developing a POS solution can be a straightforward process—processor, display, cash drawer, POS software, and so on—but your choice of ingredients can have a profound effect on the overall performance and capability of the solution, as well as your business.

What type of POS solution do you need?

Everything matters, including processing performance and speed, power consumption, network throughput, storage availability, and platform reliability. Here are three typical profiles and solution components for POS users, ranging from basic to high-end:

Entry: If simplicity, reliability, and cost are driving factors, consider this an entry-level POS system beyond a basic stand-alone electronic cash register. A cash drawer is optional and a small touch screen can be included, while audio typically is not. Entry-level users may want to focus on mobile POS as well as traditional fixed POS solutions for cost and flexibility advantages.

Mainstream: If specific features and capabilities to streamline processes unique to your business—such as inventory management and purchasing—are driving factors, then a more robust mainstream solution with a fast processor, an integrated cash drawer and magnetic strip reader (MSR), a larger touch screen, and more memory could be for you.

High-end: If you want to know that you are investing in a flexible, scalable solution that can grow as you grow, or have more than one location, then consider high end solutions. This level is perfect if you would like to integrate with advanced systems such as digital signage and security1 and, of course, mobility. These will typically be more robust in terms of memory, storage, touchscreens, audio support, and integration possibilities.2,3,4,5,6

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